It’s time to comb through the virtual anthology that was coverage of the Red Sox’ three-game ALDS sweep of the Angels and find the best of the best. Here’s what caught our eye from the five days of pure media attention.
Manny got all of that K-Rod offering, didn’t he?
BOSTON GLOBE
Ace’s stuff fit for kings — Bob Ryan is the king of Boston sports columnists, and he lives up to his billing in writing about the new king of Boston’s rotation.
Manny of the hour — Manny Ramirez’s monumental blast was a sight to behold, and Gordon Edes nailed the lead-up and explosion of the ball off the bat, as he’s wont to do.
Red Sox are soaking in their success — We could have gone with one of a number of Dan Shaughnessy stories, but why do that when you can have Jackie MacMullan? The Celtics-obsessed columnist nails the ethos of what it’s like to be the Red Sox right this moment.
BOSTON HERALD
There’s no middle ground with Escobar — Look, we know that this is supposed to be about the best Red Sox articles, but the Herald nailed a pair of features about the Angels, first with this Michael Siliverman piece about Game 2 starter Kelvim Escobar …
Halos hope to be quick study — Then with this Silverman piece about Mike Scioscia and his approach to helping his team find room to breathe.
The Big Schill looked like he was back in the ALDS.
PROVIDENCE JOURNAL
Foul ball catch a hit with Henry - Leave it to ProJo columnist Joe McDonald to bring up the biggest fan of teenager foul-ball catcher Danny Vinik — Owner John Henry.
Schilling savoring return - Sean McAdam nails a feature on Curt Schilling, right before the Big Schill returned to the Anaheim mound to dominate.
There are absolutely no acceptable excuses for sub-par Red Sox stories at this time of year. Think about the tumultuous week just past in Red Sox Nation. There was the ebb and flow of a lead over the Yankees. There was the re-emerging story of Tim Wakefield, suddenly a 15-game winner at 42. There was the injury to Doug Mirabelli and the seamless ascension of AAA stalwart - and sub-.200 hitter - Kevin Cash.
David Ortiz has plenty to smile about, including the pending eBay sale of his Mercedes coupe.
And luckily for all of we who were reading, there was plenty of good writing.
BOSTON GLOBE
New pitch, same story for Papelbon - Nick Cafardo tracks down Jonathan Papelbon in Tampa, getting to the bottom of his success at the back end of the bullpen, complete with a new pitch called - and we’re not making this up - a “slutter”.
Big Papi’s car is a big eBay hit - Andrew Ryan gets on the front end of the spin cycle about Big Papi’s eBay car sale, as strange a story as you’ll see this side of Manny Ramirez selling a grill on - you guessed it - eBay.
Fenway faithful - The Globe’s Bryan Marquand writes about the burgeoning legions of Red Sox fans all across the country.
Right doesn’t make might - Gordon Edes leads a Sox Notebook with the struggles of right fielder J.D. Drew, but may be outdone by the picture of a makeshift sign for centerfielder Coco Crisp.
Debut had the trimmings - Globe summer intern Daniel Malloy nails a piece about new Sox call-up Bobby Kielty, leading with his erstwhile out of control hair.
BOSTON HERALD
Dice cleans up on No. 4 - The Herald’s Rob Bradford weighs in on yet another mystery surrounding Daisuke Matsuzaka: How he dominates great hitters on every team.
Schilling ponders free agent future - Bradford writes about the radio address of Curt Schilling, who was feeling out interest in Tampa, among other places.
Let’s not talk about last night’s loss ourselves, let’s have others do it for us. In fact, if possible, let’s try not to even think about it. But we’ll read about it, of course. I mean what are we, savages?
The Dice Man had another impressive, deep outing, but he was hung out to try again.
BOSTON HERALD
Gagne with a spoon - Naturally, the Herald copy editors have a perfect headline for last night’s choke-fest. Then Michael Silverman does a great job in making the story stand up to the masthead.
Lugo gets lost in shuffle - Silverman’s notebook leads with the perfect start off, the suicide squeeze bunt of the year off the bat of Julio Lugo. Overall, the piece is equally well done, just like the bunt itself.
PROVIDENCE JOURNAL
Ortiz do sad number on Sox - Steven Krasner returns to the game coverage with a typically strong effort along the Inner Harbor, painting a beautiful picture of Gagne’s post game despair.
BOSTON GLOBE
Orioles’ response stinging - Who could possibly lead a disheartening game story on the road with a pinata reference? Gordon Edes of course! The incomparable Globe beat man kills in delving into the team’s sudden despair. It’s truly brilliant, yet subtle.
Ortiz gives it a shot - Edes and Amalie Benjamin combine on the Sox notebook, digging out the story of Big Papi’s cortizone shot earlier this week in the process.
There’s plenty of fabulous material floating out there about the upcoming race down the stretch, but off-days give ample opportunity for off-bet material. With that in mind, here’s our best of this morning’s offerings from the local scribes:
Dave O’Brien was the lucky man on the spot in San Fran. Take the time to listen to his full call of Barry Bonds’ record-breaking dinger to deep right-center.
BOSTON GLOBE
O’Brien’s historic call captured mood, moment - It’s not really a Red Sox story, but Susan Bickelhaupt’s piece about Dave O’Brien’s call of Barry Bonds’ record-breaker is about an employee on the team’s dole, so it’s worth noting.
BOSTON HERALD
Bullpen source of relief - Rob Bradford coughs up a strong take on the Sox’ strong bullpen, and how it’s paving the way to the postseason.
Unfit foundation - Tony Massaroti opines that the back-end of the Sox rotation has to pick up more slack down the stretch if Boston has hopes of a deep playoff run.
PROVIDENCE JOURNAL
Bullpen saves the day in Sox win - Sean McAdam of ProJo fame takes a retrospective look at how the Sox bullpen saved the day in the final night out in Anaheim.
If there was ever an alka seltzer appearance, it came last night in Anaheim, didn’t it? Has there been a bigger stretch of back-to-back-to-back-to-back relief innings against any team but the Yankees this year than there was in Anaheim last night? I don’ think there has. After reading through the best of this morning’s offerings, it looks like other writers didn’t think there has been, either.
Jon Boy struggled again last night, but he remains tantalizing because of his occasional spot-on control.
BOSTON HERALD
Protective Cabrera knows number is up - He’s among the most beloved former Red Sox stars, even though he lived in Boston less than five months. Still, Orlando Cabrera is anything but bashful when talking of how much he loved playing in Beantown, and how it wasn’t his idea to move on. For instance, he was more than happy to let new Herald writer Rob Bradford in on the curse he’s put on the team. Time to move Brandon Moss back down, huh?
More not good for Lester - Tony Massaroti weighs in on the ever-increasing pitch totals and earlier exits for Sox youngster Jon Boy Lester.
PROVIDENCE JOURNAL
Drew still a mystery to Sox - ProJo columnist Sean McAdam picks a good night to lay out the dilemma that is the constant up-and-down battle that is J.D. Drew, as the sudden center fielder - he played in dead away for the first time in four years - had an impressive night at the plate, and in the field, after more and more days of struggles.
BOSTON GLOBE
Loose change for Sox - Gordon Edes’ game story starts with the growing sense of panic around New England, then settles into a nice set of Terry Francona quips. Classic.
The road is paved with hot issues - Only Dan Shaughnessy could go on the road for a series between two division leaders and come away with so little original. Who this man shot (well, Babe Ruth, over and over again) to get a column, it’s just unbelievable. I mean look right there! It makes us so mad we write grammatically incorrect sentences! Aarrgghh!
Gordon Edes’ morning headline is probably the best, and sits on the easy line between panic and more minor distress. At five games, I’d say that line is getting an awful lot closer to general panic, wouldn’t you? Regardless, here’s the best of this morning’s headlines:
The Sox will need a good outing from Jon Lester if Eric Gagne’s going to get any work in Anaheim.
BOSTON GLOBE
Red Sox botch it, lead is cut to five - Edes nails it on the head, and his recounting of the night’s general sloppiness only makes the haphazard loss hurt that much more.
Way is cleared for Pena trade - An insightful notebook by Edes and Dan Shaughnessy, leading with the odds that Wily Coyote will still be wearing a Sox uni come October, and also touching on … wait for it … the Mariners’ mascot.
PROVIDENCE JOURNAL
Rookie Moss is put to the test - Sean McAdam looks back on the intriguing first day of outfielder Brandon Moss’ brief Red Sox tenure.
Angels cut Sox lead further - McAdam’s gamer reads even more like the intro to a story of a cancer sufferer than Edes’ game story. Both, of course, are suitably depressing.
BOSTON HERALD
According to Tony Massaroti, the Sox weren’t really paying any attention to this guy.
Historic moment is lost on Sox - Another terrific piece by Tony Massaroti, writing on the lack of Barry Bonds attention among the Sox, who - of course - were playing as the San Fran slugger connected on No. 756.
Finally! A Sox win in Seattle! I can’t use enough exclamation points here!! Allright, never mind. That got old fast. Luckily, the best writing about the team today didn’t.
Dice-K was looking good much of the first seven innings last night, as he was here dealing to Ichiro.
BOSTON HERALD
For once, bats life Dice-K- It didn’t take a ton, but as Herald writer Rob Bradford writes, the offensive support Dice-K received yesterday was a nice break.
Personal trainer part of package for Gagne - Bradford leads his notebook with an interesting note on how Eric Gagne has brought his trainer with him … both from LA to Texas, and now from Texas to Boston.
BOSTON GLOBE
Sox get lift from Schilling - Gordon Edes writes his feature piece about how Curt Schilling will shoot to be - and could be - the big impact pitcher the Sox have been looking for to take a firm grasp of the division, and AL chase.
PROVIDENCE JOURNAL
Options put Lopez on track for minorsSean McAdam leads his notebook with an interesting prognostication that lefty reliever Javier Lopez will be the odd-man out when Schilling is called off the DL tomorrow.
Schilling ready to return - McAdam’s daily feature piece is all about Schilling, and how he’s ready to be the equivalent of a deadline deal to add pitching help.
There’s just no explaining it, is there? I’m giving up. Maybe the writers will delve into it, but I’m just willing to write off Safeco as an official house of horrors at this point. Let’s get a referendum started, shall we? In the meantime, here’s today’s best pieces:
Big Papi had a big night, but it wasn’t enough.
PROVIDENCE JOURNAL
Lester’s grit a show of pride - It’s really a shame that Sean McAdam doesn’t write more often, isn’t it? When he does, he tends to churn out gems like this piece about the effect Jon Lester has had on his family, and even fans and onlookers.
Drew on bench after son’s surgery - See, McAdam can be great! This is another terrific heart-string piece, even though it’s mainly a notebook. Tremendous stuff.
BOSTON HERALD
Time to make their move - Herald columnist Tony Massaroti may have hit the nail on the head with this piece: the Sox need to make hay in August and put the division significantly out of reach. If they don’t, well, they’ll only have themselves to blame for a collapse.
Sox try to help Lester - Ever wonder how rolling deadlines affect newspapers in print editions? Just check out this Rob Bradford story … which was the last one the Herald could use for complete syndication. The West coast is just a killer sometimes.
BOSTON GLOBE
‘Wally’ roughs up shocked Lucchino - We don’t know where the inimitable Gordon Edes found this one, but it’s a truly fantastic oddball story, and truly can’t be missed. We’d say more, but it would clearly spoil the thunder from the punchline. We’ll stop now before mixing any more metaphors.
Pedroia is now hitting his stride - Edes side feature is all about mighty-mite Dustin Pedroia, and how he may have a big impact down the stretch.
Sorry, had to steal the Herald’s game-story headline for Second Cup this morning. When something is just too good, something you just have to give props. So props to you, Herald editors. That’s some solid work there. Now, here’s some more, in “best of today’s papers” form:
You know, he may only be hitting .200, but Eric Hinske sure does seem to fit in with the Sox, doesn’t he? It doesn’t hurt when he launches home run bombs, either.
BOSTON HERALD
Far from done at age 41 - Look, I’ll admit it: Steve Buckley can get on my nerves. But this is a terrific piece detailing all that is brilliant about Tim Wakefield. You may be surprised by just how much there is.
Shaken Ortiz has crossed that bridge - It’s only a couple graphs, but Jeff Horrigan’s piece about Big Papi crossing the now fallen Minneapolis bridge is almost haunting in it’s brevity and poignance.
Doerr opens for Pedroia - Another nice Buckley piece, this time about Bobby Doerr’s affinity for Dustin Pedroia. Who knows, maybe I’m just really sappy today, but I thought this was solid, too. Buck’s getting to me.
PROVIDENCE JOURNAL
Mirabelli saved face, and maybe game, for Sox - Joe Donaldson writes an impressive feature on the travails of being Doug Mirabelli. Now that would be a great sequel to that Malkovich flick, wouldn’t it?
Crisp got Sox off and running in 7th - Steve Krasner takes an interesting tact by leading the notebook with Coco Crisp, though he also hits on Jay Payton, Kevin Millar and other fascinating topics.
It’s Gagne time! You know what that means? Game OVER!!
BOSTON GLOBE
A stop-and-go win - I was leaning toward posting a game story from the Globe (sometimes you just want a good gamer, you know?) before the terrific headline, which of course alludes to Mirabelli’s running gaffe. After that, there was no question. Amalie Benjamin does a nice job of surrounding what has to be one of the more surreal instant redemption moments in recent Red Sox history, all within the threads of a strong existing piece.
Hi everyone. Sorry for this morning’s delay, but the fabulous Sox Nest admin site was getting some cosmetic surgery last night, but kept us from a TMA (The Morning After) post this morning. Crushing I know. But have no fear, we’ll work the Sharon Stone photos in some other evening (you know that was a Sharon Stone win. You know it.). But, we couldn’t go the day after a trade without acknowledging some of the best contributions in the local press. So, away we go:
Eric Gagne looks good in red, doesn’t he?
BOSTON GLOBE
Papelbon approves of move - Gordon Edes has been all over the Eric Gagne trade like a hyena around spoiled lunch meat. Today he talks about the role Jonathan Papelbon played in encouraging the move, and how excited he is to have a fellow uber-closer in the pen.
Winning move by Gagne - Daniel Malloy covers the Gagne press conference, and may have the vocab word of the year so far when a drops a “patois” on us in reference to French in the clubhouse.
BOSTON HERALD
Red Sox stage uprising - Game story of the day? Has to go to the Herald’s Michael Silverman, who meshes Kevin Garnett’s first pitch with Kevin Youkilis’ great play.
Pedroia shifts into third gear - Steve Buckley didn’t just seem to write four articles for today’s Herald, he did write four articles. The best of the bunch is this short of Dustin Pedroia, which is why the diminutive second baseman is rapidly approaching Trot Nixon status with the fans.
PROVIDENCE JOURNAL
Gagne says waiving no-trade clause easy - Still haven’t had enough Gagne? Try some Carolyn Thornton on for size. It’s not Malloy’s piece, but it’s not bad, either.
